ICYMI: If dad wants to relax, he cooks all day —KWAM 1’s son

Femi is one of the children of fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, aka KI. He talks about his father’s life off the stage with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS

Tell us more about yourself.

I am a young Nigerian trying to make a living in legitimate ways. Though I studied Computer Science at the North American University, Houdegbe in Benin and graduated in 2013, I work in a construction company in Lagos. After leaving the university, I planned to go for a master’s degree immediately, but my father advised me to gain some work experience. I should complete the master’s programme next year.

I’m also into entertainment; I run the affairs of my father’s band and it’s quite demanding. In addition, I do a little of public relations and I just started a photography outfit.

Do you sing?

I have been told I can sing many times, but I don’t see myself as a singer. I work with a fuji band; so, once in a while, when I am in my comfort zone or I want to play, I sing.

Why don’t you want to be a musician?

Everybody across the world at this time enjoys the best of fuji music. The king of fuji music is still very active and he will be around for a long time. Since he is still relevant and I am also a fan of the king, it is better we do not complicate issues. My advice to everyone is to continue to support fuji music. As for me, in the future, if Allah calls me to be a singer, His will shall be done. But for now, my concentration is a whole different thing.

Has your father ever advised you to follow in his career path?

In all honesty, he has asked me what I wanted to do. We had more like a father and son discussion about it, but he is not the kind of father who forces a child into doing things. He will only support you to do what you like to do. When we discussed it, I told him I wanted to make my own mark and do things I enjoy doing. But I can sing and I enjoy singing for the fun of it, at least for now.

Would you have been a supporter of fuji if your father isn’t a fuji artiste?

I am not a fan of fuji music because of my father. If I wasn’t his son, I would still be a fan of fuji music. When you look at the fuji genre of music, it is indigenous to us. Apart from fuji, when I listen to juju or apala, they are full of meaningful lyrics that can change one’s thoughts. Fuji music changes the way one thinks and the way one sees things. I have friends in the hip-hop industry and they are doing well, but I love traditional music. However, I listen to other music so far it is good and it is Nigerian.

Femi

Is any of your siblings into fuji music?

I have siblings who sing but none of them does fuji. Oyindamola Marshal, aka, Honey Bee, Sultan Marshal, Farouk Marshal and M-Marshal do music. But they are not based in Nigeria.

How many are your father’s children?

I don’t want to go into details about my family. But like I said earlier, I have siblings who do music. We are one big family. If we are out, you cannot spot the difference. My family is a very loving one and we all have a great relationship. There’s no gap, there’s no difference. If my father gives me N5, he will give my siblings N10 or more. He is a father that understands things easily and knows how to deal with them.

My family is blessed and everybody is happy as my father does his very best for his children. You can’t have a conversation with him in an hour without him mentioning his children. He is a loving father and he cares for all of us.

Have you been told that you resemble him?

I try to avoid going to a lot of places because of this. It is good that I look like my father as I enjoy certain benefits, but one’s personality will determine how one wants to take the recognition one gets. If I am in a place, as soon as all eyes are on me, I start to feel uncomfortable and I look for an escape route.

Why do you try to keep your identity private?

My father doesn’t expect his children to do less and receive favours because of his name. Rather, he expects one to do very well and let his name be an added advantage. I like to be recognised for the efforts I have put into things, not because of the advantage I have. My father has made us to understand that it is highly honourable when one puts in hard work; advantage should not be the main reason one is celebrated.

Would you say your father is a strict man?

My father is a perfectionist. He believes that anything worth doing is worth doing well. Anyone who says someone is strict, if you check well, the person must have bad habits and want people to accept him or her in such manner. My father is a disciplined man and wants things to be done properly. He wants everyone around him to be disciplined and cultured.

Also, my father, at home, is not different from the man on stage. If he is not happy with you, he does not hide it. If he is happy with you, it will tell from his facial expression and vice-versa. He does not have two personalities or pretend about his feelings.

Did you get preferential treatment in school being K1’s son?

I see myself as an ordinary person; I was treated like every other student in class. Other children also had parents who were celebrated in their different walks of life. Moreover, our upbringing made us take education seriously. According to my father, he has given birth to us, it is left for us to create our own paths or lives.

I was not treated specially during my school days. If the teachers were to punish all the students, I was not spared. It makes no sense to be exempted when I joined in making a noise or committing an offence.

Were you always called “K1’s son” by your peers in school?

Growing up, we only knew what we knew. We were concerned about playing football and having fun as much as possible. In my days in secondary school, I was a sports person and I did very well in it. I was known more for that. As a matter of fact, I was one of the fastest runners in school, but I am not sure I can still run. At a time, I had a huge interest in sports, but as I grew older, I started picking interests in other things.

Can you recall when your father used the cane on you or any of your siblings and what you did wrong?

Till date, he doesn’t have the time to cane a child. Whenever anyone did wrong, he would call the family together and tell you openly that you had done something you shouldn’t have done. Sometimes, you don’t need to use the cane before correcting children. Use of force has never been his thing, but my father knows how to use words to “beat” us. By the time he is done with you, you will prefer he uses the cane than words. Being an elderly man, he knows when and how to talk to you. Most times, whenever he needs to correct any erring child, he will ask that the child be woken up early in the morning.

Growing up, I can never remember a time he used the cane on us. Though he had people around him who were always eager to discipline children, he didn’t allow that to happen. After talking to us and our uncles suggested using the cane, he would warn them never to touch his children as he didn’t ask them to.

Did your father pamper you as a child?

We were not pampered at all; we had basic things children should have. The fact that my father didn’t use the cane on us didn’t mean we were spoilt. We often wished he could beat us, instead of talking because it was always painful, but we rarely got in trouble.

What are the things you’ve learnt from your father?

I have learnt to be myself at all times and exhibit integrity in all my ways. If my father says something, he will honour his words and I have imbibed that from him.

What makes him angry?

He hates people who tell lies. Regardless of what the situation is, he wants you to tell him the truth always. Of course, he may get angry after hearing the truth or what you did, but he will get over it.

Which kind of people appeal to him?

My father likes young people who take education as a priority. Whenever he is having a conversation with you, as a young person, it will be based largely on the importance you attach to education. Once you are academically sound, you become his friend.

Do you have anything in common with your father?

We both don’t hate liars. Apart from the fact that we look alike, I guess we like the same food as well. My father likes ‘eba’ and I like ‘eba’ as well. He loves bread too.

What areas do you differ with him?

We talk a lot as father and son. But apart from being my father, he is also my boss in the entertainment business and in managing his band. When we need to deliberate on things about the band, he says his opinions and asks for mine too. We don’t always share the same ideas. There are things I agree with him and there are things I question or try to convince him about. He listens to people too.

How does he relax?

He likes reading books or cooking. If he is cooking, he cooks for the whole day, from one delicacy to another. I am sure most people don’t know my father cooks well and he enjoys cooking.

Does being K1’s son put you under pressure?

I don’t see it as any pressure; it just makes one lives and acts right. I try to do things with caution because at the end, whatever one becomes is for one’s good, not for one’s father. Parents can train their children well, but they will later choose their paths in life. I don’t feel any pressure as I understand the person I should be.

People expect so much from me. But all my life, I have been able to establish the fact that I get more favours. If someone hears my last name and find out that I am K1’s son, the person will be nice to me. But generally, a lot is expected of me as the child of a celebrity. One has to be careful when dealing with people.

Do you get attention from women as K1’s son?

I don’t enjoy attention from women; I am a regular person. Like any other guy, a lady can like me and I can like her too. I am always asked this question and it is funny to me as I don’t expect a woman to like me because I am K1’s son. If there are ladies like that, I don’t think I have come across them in my life. I have never been in a relationship where the girl is particular about my father’s fame or identity. I also pray that I will never meet any lady like that.

Most of my friends, both male and female, are people of like minds and they relate with me based on how they see me.

Do you discuss your relationship life with your father?

It will be funny if my father starts asking me what I like in women because I am now an adult and we all know what we want. At times, in a smart way, he likes to know the lady’s identity or if I am in a relationship. But he has never been direct with me.

Also, I want to use this medium to correct an impression that most people have about me. I have never been engaged to anyone and I am not planning to marry anyone soon. Things they have read about me on blogs are false. If you check my Instagram page, I have a disclaimer there. This is one of the reasons I try to avoid the media. They like to break news, but when the news is false, they don’t go back to correct it. A blogger published a ‘proposal’ story about me that was completely false. The blogger didn’t confirm from me or the lady in question. A friend called me last week and wanted to know the progression of my marriage plans. I didn’t take anyone to meet my parents and I don’t have marriage in mind at the moment.

Has your father asked you to bring a lady home?

The truth is that my father cannot put pressure on me because, at this point, he understands that the young man is still trying to put things together. He knows that when I am done with necessary things and I am ready to start a family, I will take the right step.

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